Blade spacer



Sept. 8, 1942. H. N. NIEBUHR BLADE SPACER FiIGd-NOV. 12, 1938 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTORI HARRY NIE BUHR mwe% ATTORNEYS Sep 8, 19 2- H. N. NIEBUHR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BLDE SPACER Filed Nov. 12. 1938 YIIIII/I/II INVENTOR HARRY N. NIEPUHR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1942 UNETED S-IAT E S PAT O F F1 E mesne assignments, to Micro-Wiastco,

Inc.,

Bette'mlbrf; Iowa; a corporation of Maryland.

Applicatian Nevember 12, 1938, Serial N0. 239,973

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in blade spacers andmore particularly 170 a-blade spacer for adjusting the distance between the slicing knives or cutters ofa bread -slicingmachine so as 130 vary the thickness of ehe slices procluced thereby.

II: is an object of the invention 130 provide a blade spacer having individual elements or fingers for spacingand guiding the cutter blades of a slicing machine, which elements or fingers are carried by movable guide members having associatecl therewith positive mechanism for adjusting.the distance between the guide members and fingers while the cutter blades are moving.

Another object is 130 provicle a blade spacer having guide members which are rigidly supported in adjusted position with a minimum of p1ay er defiection sathat blades or cutters guided thereby have a m'inimum permissible lateral movement or displacement.

Another object is the provision in a blade spacer of a multiplicity of individual blade guidingmembers Which are Carried by spaced supporting members in a manner which prevents lateral twist or misalignment of the guide members with respect to one another.

Am0m specific object is to modify the type of spacer show n in co-pending application Serial N0. 260,044 filed March 6, 1939, of Vollmer and Herwehe and to provide, in a slicing machine of the character having a plurality of endless cutter bandscarried on spaced drums, means for spacing andguiding the individual laps of the cutter bands, which means can be adjusted to vary the spacing between the cutters whilethe bands are in motion, therebeing cutter blade spacing and guiding elements below and above the path of the articles 130 be sliced; Other 0b' jects and advantages will become apparenc from the following detailed description of a suitable embocliment of the invention which-is-made With reference to the accompanying drawingain which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic Illustration With parts removed showing the manner in Which blade guiding and spacing mechanisms coustructecl in accordance With the present invention are used With an endlessloand type slicing machine;

Fig. 2 is a detail view, with parts removed, taken substantiallY on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and enlarged with respect thereto;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic detail showing the mechanism for simultaneously adjusting the blade spacers and guideswhich are disposed above and below the path of articles' through thebands;

Fig 4= is afragmentary+dtail; partly in section sho'wing the mounting of aguide' member and the manner in which itgides=acutter band or blade;-

Fig. 5 is a frag-mentarydetail, in:section showing oneof theblade receiv ing fingers, taken substantially on the line5-5 ofFig. 4;

Fi'g. 6 is a fragmeutry detailview, partly in secti0n and withl part"s-rem0ved} t'a1 ensubstantially on the line 6-6 of Fi'g. 4, showingizhe man-* ner in which a plurality of the gUid membe'rs are mounted onthe supporting rriembers; and

Fig. 7 is a fragrnentary dtail correspon'ding to Fig. 6 showingthe guide members contracted toward oneanother' effctamihimum spacing of the cutter'b'ands4 v Theblade gtlide mechani'sm of the preseht' invention isshown as applid to a slicing machine 0f the endless cutter band type, such as shown in co-pending applibation of Kottniann and Vllmer Ser ial N0. 260,046, fil d March 6, 1939 and use'd frslicing bradl Referring to the drawings-by numerals of referencewhicli indicate li-ke partstlirough'outthe severalviews; the apparatus comf rises* a pli1rality of'endless cutter bands l which are carried-around spaced top and bottmdrums-2 and3, respeotivel3n Be tween the' d'rur'ns the blades are g-1Ven a half twist so th'at the cutting edges of both laps of ea ch band are directed in the same direction; If desi-rd, a-nullnb'erof idling or guide drumsmay b'e provi'dd to mairltain a suitable tension in thefbands and 110 dispose both laps cf allthe bands i1'r1- substantially a commorr plane which may pass-through the axes-of the drums 2-"and'3i All of the drums are mounted on shaf1is journalle'd' in, or otherwise carried in conventional'-manner by side frames, not shown, and the bottom drum 3 is dfiven by= an electric mo-' tor 5 tl'ireugh a -belt 6 running on' pulleys 1 anti-81 The c'unter bands l areall of'substantially the sam a lenghand are disposed in sideby side relatio'n onthe drums 2' and 31 A succession of--lo'aVes A er otl'ler'articles besliced are adva'nc6d toancl through the knives or cutter bands I intermediate the drums 2 and 3 over an infeed conveyor comprising asupporting apron II and. a plu'rality of fiights I2 mountecl at uniform iritebrvals on an endlesS belt- I3 runnin g over pulleys' or suitablt'e rosa'tablg menj L0Wer blade-spacing ancl gxiiding-fingers;--Iio be later described, are disposed in operative ahnement With the infeed conveyor apron I I and. support the articles A as they are sliced and pass through the cutters I and. until they are deposited either directly on a discharge conveyor or on a suitable support I0, which is disposecl as a continuation of the lower blade guiding and spacing fingers. The discharge conveyor may be an endless belt I5 whioh may be driven synchronously with the infeed conveyor belt I3.

Above and below the path of the articles A the individual laps of the cutters or band blades I are received in elongatecl slots I6 of guide fingers I I of the upper and lower blade spacing and guiding mechanisms. The fingers I7 are carried by guide members I8 slidably mounted on spaced substantially parallel supporting members I9 and 20.

The ends of the supporting members I9 and 20 are journalled for rotation in frame members 22 and 23 Which are secured to the supporting structure of the slicing 'machine or, if desired, may be the side frames thereof Which carry the drums 2, 3, and 4. The upper blade guiding or spacing mechanism, disposed above the path of the articles A, is arranged so that the supporting members I9 and 20 thereof are disposecl in a common plane Which is substantially parallel to the plane of all of the cutter bands I. Accordingly, the guide members I8 Which are mounted on the supporting members of the upper blade guicle mechanism, are disposed in substantially parallel relation with respect to the plane of the cutter bands. 81m1- larly, the supporting members I9 and 20 of the lower or bottom blade guiding and spaclng mechanism disposed below the path of the articles through the cutters, are in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the cutter bancls and the lower guide members I8 are likewise disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the cutter bands.

Preferably, the path of the articles A is substantially oblique to the paths of the cutter bands so that lower leading corner 24 of each article is first engaged by the cutting edges of the bands at the beginning of the slicing of each article.

The guide fingers I'I are arranged in substantially parallel relation With respect to the path of the articles A and the fingers of the upper guiding mechanism are disposed as closely adjacent thereto as possible, to afford a more accurate guiding and spacing of the several laps of the various cutter bands and to insure a more uniform and even slicing. Additionally, the upper guide fingers serve as a hold down for the articles during slicing. Hence, the fingers I'I of the upper blade guiding mechanism are disposed at acute angles With respect to their associated guicling members I8, while the guide fingers I I of the lower blade spacing mechanism are disposed at obtuse angles with respect to thelr associated guicle members, as shown in Fig. 1. Other than in the angles at whieh the blade guide fingers I1 are attached to the corresponding guide members I8, the upper and lower blade guide mechanisms may be substantially alike so that the following description of one is applicable to the construction of the other.

v A multiplicity of threaded spreading or expanding elements or bushings 25 are slidably mounted on each Qf the supporting members I9 and 20 and are secured thereon against rotation by any suitable means, such for example as by making the supporting members square or noncircular in cross section, as shown, and having squarecl or non-circular apertures through the spreading elements. If desired, the expanders may be conuter-recessed r relieved, as indicated at 26, reduce the area of contact with the supporting members.

The guide members I8 each comprise end portions 27 and 28 and a body portion 29. The end portion 21 is apertured and threadedly mounted on one of the spreader elements carried on the supporting member I9, and the end portion'28 ls apertured and threadedly mounted on one of the spreading elements carriecl by the supporting member 20. As appears in Flg. 6, the end portlon 21 of each 01 the guide members is offset With respect to its associated end portion 28 so that the connecting body portion 29 extends obliquely between the supporting members I 9 and 20. This feature of construction prevents lateral play or twisting of the guide members and fingers carried by the supporting members and thus imparts lateral stability to the individual guides or spacers of the spacing mechanism.

Desirably, the guide members I8 are formed of a suitable streng and rigid material such as metal and may be formed by a casting operation so that the ends and bocly portion may be integral. Upon rotation of the supporting members I9 and 20 the threaded spreading elements 25 carried thereby may be screwed into or out of the end portions cf the guide members so as to retract the spreading elements into the threaded apertures of the guide members or to project shoulclers 39 of the spreacling elements from the apertures in the guide members. If desired, all of the spreading elements 25 and the bores or apertures in the guide elements which receive the spreading elements may be provided with threads 2I 0f the same character, that is, either right or left hand threads, so that a material recluction in manufacturing cost can be realized over what would obtain if some right band and some left hand threacls were necessary. In such case the spreading elements will all project from the Same relative side of the several guicle members, as shown.

One side face of each of the ends 21 and 28 0f the guide members is provided with an abutment to engage the shouloler 30 of the spreading element projecting from the next acljacent guide member. Such an abutment; may be in the form Of an annular washer 3I seated in a suitable recess or countersink formecl in the end of the guide member, around the aperture which receives one of the spreading elements. Thus the washers 3I surround the supporting members I9 and 20 and are restrained against lateral shifting by the Walls of the sockets or recesses formed in the faces of the guicle members. Accorcllngly, when the supporting members I9 and 20 are rotated so as to project the spreaoling elements 25 from their sockets or apertures in the guide members I8, the shoulders 30 of the projecting spreadlng elements bear against the washers 3I of the next adjacent guide members to position the several guide members in uniform spaced relation wlth respect to one another, as shown in Fig. 6.

Upon rotation of the supporting members I9 and 20, so as to retract the spreading elements 25 into the threaded sockets or apertures in the guide members I8, the latter are permitted to move together in side by side relation, as shown in Flg. '7, thus decreasing the spaoe or distance separating adjacent cutters or blades to a minimum. The threads 011 all f the spreading elements 2-5are f uniform pitclr so*that for a'n equ'al' number cf turns* 01 revolutiqns of the spreading elements in" their respective sockets, theyproject from 01 are-retracted intotheir respectiveguide members in equal or like amounts':

When projecting the spreading elements from the=guide members theltter arepositively forced apartfrom oneanother by the engagement of the projecting shoulders-3Q of the spreading elements with the abutments o1 washers 3l. In oraler 120 insu1e a, contraction er moving together of the guide members whenthe supporting members are rotated* so as toretract thespreading elements within their respective guide members; tension springs 32 are dlsposed through aligned openings 33ln thebody portions-29of the guide members 0f* the-upper and lower blade spacing mechanisms: The sprlngs. 32are normally under tensionanal have their enclssecured by pins 3 l' in sockecs 35 formed on theem1 guide members;

The guid'e members I3 of eachblade spacing mechanism, located t0 the left=- of the--median or center line of the-machine, as viewed in Fig. 2, are preferably arrangedgn the' supporting members l9 and. 26 so thatthe body portions 29thereof 'extend obliquely to' the left fromthe supporting member 23 to die supporting member I9, While the guide members to the right 0f the center lineof the-machine, as viewed in Fig. 2, extend obliqueliy to the' right from the supporting member 251 to the supporting member I9; Sleeves3l are secureol bypins33 on the supporting members I9 between the end portions 2T of the central guicle members I8; The sleeves 37 serveto preventexcess enclwise or lateral movement= of the guidemembers on the supporting members soas-to retaih the=blaclaguiding and spacing mechanisms centered between the flame members 22 ancl 23.

The supportingmembers I9 anal 2llofeachof the spacing mechanisms carry collars 39 which bear against the journals in the f1ame member 23"0Q prevent movementof the supporting members to the right, as viewed in F'lg; 2. Adjacent the frame member 22 the supporting members wand 20- have secured thereon spur gears-4U and 4I respectively. Micldle gears42 mesh with the gears 49 and 4 lof each of the spacing mechanisms andthe teeth on tha several gears are arrangecl so that the supporting members I9 and 20 rotate synchronously to efiect equal incremens -of movement for botl'1 enols ofthe guide members carried thereby.

The middle gear 62 of alle upper blade spacing mechanism is securedun a shaft 43-journalliad in the frame 22 and having a, crank M secured on the outsicle cf the frame accessibleto the operator of.the machine.v The gear 2'of the-lower spacing mechanism is-secured ona shaft 45 journalled in the frame member 22. On the outside ofthe frame member 22 the shaft 45 carries a gear 45 having a chain 41 trained thereover and a-gear 8 secured on the shaft 43. cf theupper bl'ade spaclng mechanismso that both the upper and lower middle gears 42 are synchronously turned by the crank &4 to effect simultaneous adjustment of the upper and lowerblad6 spacing mechanisms.

The presentinvention thus-provides a bl-ade spacing and guiding mechanism for aslicing machine which permits quick and accurate adjustment cf the distance between adjacent cutters ancl hasa positive action between the adjacent guide members so -tha.t= thef0rcingapart 0f the guidje members co efieci; arwlder spac-ing betweeri Due to the character of theendlessbands I; which run freely over thedrums 2 and 3, the

bladespacing mechanisms; bothupper and 10wer,

may be simultaneously adjustedwhile the bladda b'ands l are moving. 'Ihis adjustment canbe efi"ected from the outside of the machine by means of the crank44 sothat "ehe dangen of injuryte the operator is practically elimina-ted;

Due to the novel construetion of the blade guidemembers and fingers and the manner in which they are mounted on and carried by the supporting members l-El and increased rigidity and lateral stability is impartecl thereto.

The principles of the present invention may be utilized in numer-ous constructions, changes being made in the=particuhr detailsshown and described asdesired 11; being understood that variousmodifications and alterations are Contemplated. and that theembodiments shownare given for purposes of explanation and illustrati0n.

What I claim is:

l. In a slicing machine, a plurality of spaced cutter blades, means for actua-ting-the blades, a pair of spaced, substantially parallel supporting members disposed transversehr with respect 120 the blades anal adjacent thereto, aspreading element slidably mountecl on each supporting member, and a guide member extencling between the supporting members and carried by the spreading elements, said guidemember having 7 a portion to receive and guide one of the blades anal a body portion which isoblique to the supporting members.

2. In a; slicing machine; a plura-lity cf spaced cutter blades, means for actuating the blades-, a plurality of guicle members disposed in side by side relation and individually associated with the blades spacaandguide the latter, a pair 015 spaecl, substantlally parallel supperting membersslidably received in end portions-of the gulde members, sald guide members having aligned openings dlsposed intermediate the supporting members, a tension spring extending threugh said aligned openings, the ends of the srihg being securecl to end guide members, and means for spreading the guide members on the supporting members against the tension of said spring.

3. In a-slicingmachine, a plurall'ny cf spacecl cutter -blades means for actuating the blades; a pair of spaced, substantially parallel supporting membersdisposed transversely With respect to the blades and adjacentthereto, a pluralityof guide members individually associ&ted with the blades to space anal guicle the lattersaid guicle members extending obliquely-between alle supporting members in slde by side relation ancl slid ably mounted thereon, alignedapertures formed in the guide members intermediate the supporting members; a tension spring extending througl1 said aligned apertures, the ends of the spring beingsecured-to end guide members, and means for spreading the guides onthe suppertsunder the tension ofthe spring to vary the spacing between the blades.

4. In aslicingmachine, a plurality of spaced cutter blades, means for actuating the blades, a fii*st pair of spaced=substantially parallel supportingmembers disposecl transversely with respect 130 the blades and adjacent thereto, asec 1 ondpair of spacecl substantially parallel. surrporting membersspaced fromsaid first. pair.of V members and. similarly disposed withmespect 199 the blades, a first g'r0up of guide memberg disposed in side by side relation and individually associated with the blades to space and guide the latter, said guide members extending between the first pair of supporting members, a second group of guide members similarly disposed and associated, the second graup of guide members extencling between the second pair f supporting members, a plurality of spreading elements slidably mounted on each supporting member and restrained against rotation relative thereto, said elementg being threadedly received within the guide members and the elements associated with each pair of supporting members being arranged to project from the guide members toward an adjacent guide member upon rotation of said pair of members 130 separate the guide membersmeans for resiliently forcing the guide members together, means for synchronously rotating the first pair of supporting members, means for similarly rotating the second pair of supporting members, and means for simultaneously ancl synchronously rotating both pairs 0f supporting members.

5. In a slicing machine having a supporting structure ancl thin flexible blades, a spacer comprising a supporting member of elongated character disposed across and adjacent the blades, a group of guicle members slidably mounted on the supporting member in side by side relation, stop means secured on the supporting member adjacent the center thereof and disposed between guide members in the center of the group, and elastic means connected to and extending between the guide members at the ends 0f the group to crowd the same and the intervening guide members toward the stop means.

6. In a slicing machine, cutter blades, a spacer support disposed adjacent the blades, a group of guides on the support and means associated therewith to engage and space the blades, a stop on the support 130 engage a guide in the center of the group and prevent such guide from moving along the support, ancl spring means extending through the group of guides and connected to the endmost guides to crowd the group together.

'7. In a slicing machine, cutter blades, a pa11 of elongated supports disposed adjacent the blades in spaceol parallel relation 130 one another, a stop on one support centrally thereof guides extending obliquely between the supports and slidable therealong, each guide being associated with one of the blades 150 guide the same, and means having connection With the endmost guides to crowcl the guides together on both sides of the stop.

8. In a slicing machine, cutter blades, a pa1r of elongated supports disposed adjacent the blades in spaced parallel relation 110 one another, a stop on one support centrally thereof, guides extending obliquely between the supports and slidable therealong, each guide being associatecl with one of the blades to guide the Same, ancl means having connection with the endmost guides and extending through the guides intervening between the endmost guides to draw the endmost guides together and thereby crowd the guides together on both sides of the stop.

9. In a slicing machine, cutter blades, a pa1r of elongated supports disposed in spaced parallel relation adjacent the blades, a stop 0n one of the supports centrally thereof, a number of guides mounted on the Supports on both sides of the stop, each guide extending between the supports and being slidable therealong and being individually associated with one of the blades 120 guide the same, and resilient means having connection with the endmost guides between the supports and extending through the guides intervening between the endmost guicles in substantially parallel relation 130 the supports to draw the endmost guides together and thereby crowd the guides together on both sides of the stop.

10. In a slicing machine, cutter blades, a pair of elongated supports disposed adjacent the blades in spaced parallel relation 130 one another, a stop on one support centrally thereof, guides on both sides of the stop extending obliquely between the supports and slidable therealong, the oblique portion of each guide making an acute angle with the longitudinal axis 0f the support having the stop on the side of the guide towarcl the stop each guide being associated with one of the blades to guide the same, and means for crowding the guides together on the supports.

11. In a slicing machine, a plurality of spaced cutter blades, guides disposed in Side by side relation ancl individually associated with the blades guide ancl space the latter, a pair of spaced substantially parallel supports slidably received in spaced portions of the guicles, said guides having aligned openings disposed intermediate the supports, and means extending through said openings and having connection with the endmost guides, said means being adapted to draw the endmost guides together.

12. In a slicing machine having thin flexible blades, a spacer comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel elongated rotatable supporting members, a plurality of threaded spreading elements slidably mounted 011 each member for rotation therewith, a multiplicity of gulde members .disposed in side by sicle relation, each guide member having a pair of threacled apertures which receive elements 011 each of the supporting members and are wholly supported by such elements, an 3Jbllfll8llli member disposed across one end of each aperture means for retaining one end of each element in bearing engagement with the abubment member disposecl acrosg one of the openings in the next adjacent guide member, and means for rotating the supporting mem-bers in unison 130 simultaneously screvv both of the elementg associated with each guide member into and out 0f the apertures thereof, the elements supporting each guide member being arranged to project evenly from the apertures thereof and to thereby spread the guicle members along the supporting members by engagement With the abutment members.

13. In a Slicing machine, cutter blades, a pair of elongated Supports disposed With their axes in spaced parallel relation adjacent the blades, a stopon one 01 the supports centrally thereof, a number of guides mounted on the supports on both sides of the stop, each guide extending between the Supports and being slidable therealong and being individually associated With one of the blades receive and guide the same, and means having connection with the endmost guides and acting along a line spaced from and between the axes cf said supports and. approximately parallel to said axes to crowd the guides together againsu the centrally disposed stop.

14. A spacer comprisirig a pair of elongated supports disposed with their longitudinal axes in spaced. parallel relation to one another, guides extending between the supports and mountecl thereon in generally parallel relation to one another for movement therealong, and elastic means extending between and having connection with t-he endemost guides, said elastic means actin-g along a line spaced from between and approximately parallel to said axes to dnaw the same and the intervening guides together along the supports, saicl acting line cf the elastic means being substantially in the plane 0T the axes 015 the supports to avoid binding of the guides on the supports.

15. In a slicing maehine having therein a. plurality of relatively thin flexible blades, a spacer comprising a rotatable supporting member, a plurality of threaded spreading elements slidingly mounted on the member for rotation-therewith, guide members disposed in side by side relation along the supporting member and having threaded apertures to receive the elements and an abutment member disposed against one end of each of the apertures of the guide members, each of saicl guide members and the abutment member disposed thereagainst having interfitting engagement With one another whereby the abutment members are wholly supported by the guide members, said abutment members being spaced from and out of contact with the rotatable supporting member, and means for rotating the supporting member to screw the elements into and out of the apertures, each element upon being screwed out 0f the aperture in a guide member being arranged to bear against the abutment member in the next adjacent guide member and thereby spread the guide members along the supporting member.

16. In a slicing machine having elongated thin flexible .cutters morunted in side by side relation with their mutting edges disposed in approximately a -commou plane and means for actuating the cutters for longitudinal movement, spacing mechanism mmprising a |pair 0 f elongated members supported in spaced parallel relation to one another and. with their longitudinal axes in a com- :mon plane spaced fmm and substantially paralle'l to the lplane 02 the cutting edges of the cutters, a :plurality of relatively thin guides extending between said members and slidingly supported. thereby for movement therealong, means extending through the guides and having connection therewith :for actuating the g-uides for movement along the supports said last named means having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to and spaced from the axes of the Supports and acting along a line in the plane thereof to prevent binding of the guides on the supports, and fin=gers extending angularly from the guides 120 individually engage the |cut ters with a running fit 170 space and guide the cutters.

HARRY N. NIEBUHR. 

